The Michigan Wolverines (25-9) entered the Big Ten Tournament with a three-game losing streak but quickly turned their season around by defeating Purdue, Maryland, and Wisconsin. As a result, they secured a No. 5 seed for the NCAA Tournament and are set to face UC San Diego, the Big West champion, in the opening round. Despite their favorable seed, Michigan is only a 2.5-point favorite, indicating that UCSD may be a popular pick for an upset in the early rounds.

The Wolverines aim to build on their recent success, driven by new expectations under first-year coach Dustin May, who previously led Florida Atlantic to a remarkable Final Four run in 2023. The team now has a chance to prove itself against a strong Tritons squad that is riding a 15-game winning streak.

In addition, another key matchup to monitor is the No. 8 Louisville versus No. 9 Creighton, where Louisville, after a strong finish to their season, could capitalize on their home court advantage in what promises to be a closely contested game.

For more insights and predictions regarding the NCAA tournament, check out the detailed analysis here.